Bangka–Belitung Islands

Bangka–Belitung
—  Province  —

Seal
Motto: Serumpun Sebalai (Malay)
(The same root, the same place)
Location of Bangka–Belitung in Indonesia
Coordinates:
Country Indonesia
Capital Pangkal Pinang
Government
 • Governor Eko Maulana Ali
Area
 • Total 18,724.74 km2 (7,229.7 sq mi)
Population [1]
 • Total 1,223,048
 • Density 65.3/km2 (169.2/sq mi)
Demographics
 • Ethnic groups Malays (72%), Chinese (12%), Javanese (6%), Buginese (3%), Madurese (1%)
 • Religion Muslim (81.8%), Buddhist (8.7%), Confucianism (5.1%), Protestant (2.4%), Catholic (1.7%), Hindu (0.1%)
 • Languages Indonesian, Hakka (Chinese)
Time zone WIB (UTC+7)
Website www.babelprov.go.id

Bangka–Belitung Islands is a province of Indonesia. The province includes two main islands, Bangka and Belitung, and several smaller ones that lie east of the Sumatran mainland and northeast of South Sumatra province. The Bangka Strait separates Sumatra and Bangka, and the Gaspar Strait separates Bangka and Belitung. The South China Sea is to the north, the Java Sea is to the south, and the province is separated from Borneo in the east by the Karimata Strait.

The province was formerly part of South Sumatra, but became a separate province along with Banten and Gorontalo in 2000. In 2010 its population was 1,223,048.[1] The capital is Pangkal Pinang.

These islands are the largest producer of tin in Indonesia. They also produce white pepper.

Bangka Belitung Islands has many beaches and smaller islands with beaches having blue sea waters, coral reefs, fine white sand, and giant granite rock formations which have attracted tourists from around the world. The most well known beaches in Bangka Island are Matras, Parai, Tanjung Pesona, Batu Bedaun, Remodong, Pasir Padi, Tanjung Kelian, Rebo, and Telok Uber Beach. Whereas Belitung Island exotic beaches are Tanjung Kiras Beach, Tanjung Pendam Beach, Tanjung Tinggi Beach, Tanjung Kelayang Beach, Tanjung Binga fisherman village Beach, Panyaeran Beach, Tanjung kubu Beach, Gembira Bay and Tanjung Ru Beach, which are ideal sites for diving, scuba, snorkeling, fishing and sailing.[2]

According to Health Department of Indonesia (DEPKES), Bangka Belitung is highly malarious area. Annual Malaria Incidence rate at Bangka Belitung is reported as 29.3/1000 population. (Indonesia Health Map 2007, DEPKES, RI)

Bangka-Belitung is divided into six regencies (kabupaten) and 1 city (kota):

References

Further reading